A little bit better in the passing game last year and the Tigers might have stayed in the BCS title hunt. That's why Coach Les Miles is emphasizing the passing game foremost as the team with 15 starters returning prepares for 15 spring workouts.

"There's only so many reps in a spring," Miles said Thursday. "A year ago we said we were going to run the football better. Certainly that will stay. We need to throw the football more efficiently. That will be a piece of the spring."

Miles said the returns from the early morning coaching sessions the team has been holding have been good and that Jefferson has made good use of his time since the Cotton Bowl.

"There'll be great competition at the quarterback spot," Miles said. "Jordan Jefferson has had as fine a coaching sessions as I've seen. He's in the best shape I've seen him in. His attention to detail and his want to be a great quarterback appears to me to be there."

Mettenberger, the most sought-after junior college quarterback in the nation and a former Georgia Bulldog, has yet to suit up as a Tiger. But Miles expects him to at least provide more of a push to help Jefferson realize his potential.

Mettenberger is less of a running threat than Jefferson but put up some eye-popping numbers while leading Butler Community College to the junior college national championship game.

"Our view of him was that he had all the skills and abilities to throw the football down the field, on a line, drive it in, lay it up with touch," Miles said. "He appeared to make real quality decisions with his eyes and has good quality of footwork for delivery. In my opinion, he's a very, very talented passer, and we recruited him with the opportunity to come in here and compete to play. That's exactly where he's at."

While the battle for quarterback could get lively, Miles has some other questions to answer. Running back Stevan Ridley jumped ship for the NFL after reigniting the running game with 1,147 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Whomever gets the job will be running behind an offensive line that re-established itself and needs to replace left tackle Joseph Barksdale. Miles said Chris Faulk will get a shot at stepping in, or right tackle Alex Hurst could move over to the left side.

On the other side of the ball, three defensive stalwarts are gone -- tackle Drake Nevis, linebacker Kelvin Sheppard and cornerback Patrick Peterson, along with Nevis' running mate Pep Levingston at tackle.

Freshman Anthony Johnson, one of three early enrollees along with Mettenberger and Hillard, and redshirt freshman Ego Ferguson will provide competition on the defensive line for holdovers Michael Brockers, Josh Downs and Bennie Logan.

Miles touted D.J. Welter and Kevin Minter in the battle to replace Sheppard in the middle and with Morris Claiborne out, Tyrann Mathieu and Tharold Simon likely will be the leaders at cornerback.

Miles said safety Karnell Hatcher may wind up being moved to linebacker to back up Stefoin Francois.

With Peterson gone, Miles said Ron Brooks is the leader to take over kickoff returns with either Mathieu or wide receiver Rueben Randle handling punts.

Drew Alleman and Brad Wing will get long looks at placekicker and punter.

Miles' coaching staff is still one short with special teams coach Joe Robinson leaving for North Carolina. But Miles said he wasn't in a hurry and that the start of spring practice was not a deadline for a hire.

"We'd prefer to have him for that date, but not necessarily," he said. "We want to have the right guy and want to take our time with the decision."

INJURIES: Miles said defensive end Sam Montgomery (knee) and safety Brandon Taylor (foot) were ahead of schedule in recovering from surgery and could participate in spring practice. Miles said Claiborne suffered a high ankle sprain in the Cotton Bowl and won't be ready until later in the spring.